What age do you feel firearms training is appropriate?

Sgt Jesse Bergeron — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 10:14:47 -0400

I started teaching my oldest daughter two years ago at the age of 10. It seems as though my military friends agree that it is a good thing, while a good part of the small civilian contingent in my life (family included) does not seem to understand why I am training her at such a young age.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Sep 18 at 2014 10:15 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 10:15:40 -0400

I don't think there is a set age. Every kid is different and will be able to handle that kind of responsiblity at different ages.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2014 10:26 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 10:26:56 -0400

Firearms training in my opinion starts with education! From the time a child has the ability to understand, and at least somewhat comprehend the words you are saying, you should start that education as long as you have weapons in your house. Prevention is the key point I am getting at here.

As far as hands on training goes, that would depend on the maturity level of the individual child at hand. I started shooting at 7 years old.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 18 at 2014 10:33 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 10:33:16 -0400

It's not about a magic number, it's about the maturity level, cognitive development and manual dexterity of the student.

Response by Sgt Jesse Bergeron made Sep 18 at 2014 10:43 AM

Sgt Jesse Bergeron — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 10:43:30 -0400

She, from the beginning, has impressed me with her maturity and skill when we are on the range.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2014 1:23 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 13:23:27 -0400

Define "training".

I would say you start training them once they understand what a firearm is. They may not be firing it or even handling it but teaching them about firearms and proper safety is still training. They are never to young to start picking up on how you handle firearms.

I grew up with firearms all around me. My father taught me to shoot before I started grade school. I was never scared of firearms but I knew how to safely use one and what they were capable of.

Response by 1SG Chris Brown made Sep 18 at 2014 1:49 PM

1SG Chris Brown — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 13:49:18 -0400

Obviously every parent has to make that decision for themselves and their child. My daughter is 9 and I have not started quite yet. But I think when she's 10 we will have her down at the range shooting at least a .22 to begin with. We'll work up to the .40 S&W when I feel she has enough strength to handle it. I think awareness was raised a lot after the firearms instructor death a few weeks ago. I don't see me having my daughter out with an automatic machine gun like that at such an early age, but that's just my opinion. I would think the minimum age for something like that should be 13, but everyone will have a different view on that I'm sure.

Response by LT Jessica Kellogg made Sep 18 at 2014 9:40 PM

LT Jessica Kellogg — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 21:40:56 -0400

I remember reading one theory about how if you have guns in your home you should introduce your children to the from the time they are able to comprehend. Not necessarily shooting, but seeing how they come apart and are cleaned, and going through all the really "boring" details. This way they're demystified, rather than being super secret (and thus instantly more attractive).
Obviously, they need to stay safely inaccessible. But if your kids know they can ask you to see the guns any time, there's not the need to sneak around.

I do have guns, but don't have kids. But, it is an idea that makes sense to me.

Response by SPC Breanne Lyles made Jan 23 at 2015 12:23 AM

SPC Breanne Lyles — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 00:23:57 -0500

My oldest is 5 and we started teaching him gun safety at 3. My youngest is 3 and he is learning gun safety. I believe if you have a gun in your house, you need to remove the curiosity and replace it with knowledge. Both my husband and I are veterans.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2015 10:04 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 22:04:14 -0500

I have been exposing and educating my kids about firearms since they were very young. They would see me cleaning and caring for the weapons after using them, and then I would take them to watch me shoot.
I did not have anything really suitable for them to shoot, however as each kid was 'ready' (as determined by me) I helped them shoot a .38 revolver. Over time, I started exposing them to a 5.56mm AR, which they really liked!
Now they mostly shoot a .22 pistol and .22 rifle, but my oldest (almost 13) is getting big enough to handle some of the larger calibers including most recently a .45 (with my dedicated help).

BL: Each kid has been different, however they are comfortable with my weapons, know they are not to handle them without supervision (they are secured as well) and know how to handle when it is time to do so. We started shooting when they were between 7-10 with hands on assistance, moving to close supervision. I look forward to being able to have them shoot almost autonomously!
They love going to the range and are getting to be pretty good shots!

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 7 at 2015 10:06 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 22:06:25 -0500

I believe you need to teach your children the minute they pick up and squirt gun and old enough to understand the basics. I am a firm believer if you have firearms in the residence everyone should know the basics about handling and deploying them.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jun 29 at 2015 8:03 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 20:03:09 -0400

I do not think 10 is too young, in fact I wonder why you waited till 10. When I was about 5, my dad very carefully built a range in the garage and we shot bb guns into a pellet trap, under his close supervision. I remember vaguely that I took right to it and kept most on the hits in the black on the target. About a year later, at 6, I was firing .22 rifles in the range at Ft. Wachooka. My older brother and sister were doing it all too.

On the other hand, when I took 2 of my grandsons, 5 and 7, shooting bb guns, they could not hit the target, I surmized they did not comprehend the basics of a good sight picture, which I carefully taught them, and I closed down the range.

I think my point is that a child can shoot when the child is ready and the OIC/NCIOC is ready.

The sooner they understand what a weapon does, the safer they will be with a weapon.

Response by MSgt Niclas Svensson made Aug 18 at 2015 3:20 AM

MSgt Niclas Svensson — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 03:20:37 -0400

I subscribe to the same multi-level approach that my dad took with me growing up...your milage may vary, but this is what I did with my boys...keeping in mind that my boys are at different levels (because they are different ages) and they may progress at different levels

First rule from day one, to present day:
No one touches a firearm without me being present, and before we start, they must recite my gun safety rules.

At the age of 4-5, I introduced my boys to firearms... Mainly teaching them about what they are, what they can do, and what the safety rules are for. I make weapons available to look at and hold (supervised) as long as all the safety rules are followed. It has been my experience, that if there is no mystery or taboo surrounding it, there is less chance of them attempting to seek it out on thier own.

Once the safety rules were second nature, around 6 or so, we introduced airsoft and BB guns...again, treating them as if the were the real deal, and started working on the fundamentals of actually shooting a firearm and operating it in a safe manner. If a safety rule is broken at any point, the shooting is done for that day. They will stay at this level until I am convinced they are ready to move on.

At around age 8 my oldest graduated to shooting my old Ruger 10/22, first learning to shoot iron sights, and then moving up to shooting with a scope. It was also at this level that he began to be responsible for cleaning the weapon after a shoot.

This year he turned 10 and he has become very proficient with the 10/22, so I have gradually let him try different, more powerful weapons. Each time we move to a different weapon, prior to shooting, he learns how the weapon works, how to load/unload/clear malfunctions...etc.

This Christmas (when he will be 11) I will be buying him his very own rifle, which he will still not have unsupervised access to, but will be his to shoot and maintain.

He will stay at this point until I feel he has matured enough to take a weapon out on his own and not violate any rules.

Myself, when I was 15, I routinely took that very same 10/22 out shooting by myself, but this is really all dependant on the maturity level of the child.

Again, this was the approach my dad took with me and what has worked for me with my boys. Not everyone will do things the same way and that is OK.

Keep in mind, there are a LOT of other minor rules and things that go into this approach, but this is long enough and it would go on forever if I were to go any deeper.

Apologies for the novel...

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2015 9:08 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 09:08:05 -0400

I started shooting around eight years old with one of my father's 20 gauge shotguns. As the years of gone by I've found myself loving firearms more and more. A good friend of mine bought his son an AR styled .22 Long Rifle a few months back, which he had the opportunity to shoot while I was home on leave. I feel so long as the child shows an interest in firearms at a young age such as 8 or so, there's nothing wrong with teaching them the basics of firearms safety maintenance and marksmanship.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2015 10:15 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 10:15:16 -0400

when kids realize what is a gun. :)